Indeed, Roman seemed the least of Jerome’s concerns as the archdemon studied Grace’s frozen form. Her defeat had been anticlimactic, really. There had been no flashy brawl as everyone else seemed to have had today, but then, I supposed when you wielded the kind of power Jerome did, there was no need. I also had a feeling that Grace had been right about something. Even if he did have connections, Jerome probably couldn’t risk doing anything rash to reestablish his control back in Seattle. He probably did want to torture her and blight her from the face of the earth, but binding her and taking her to face hellish justice—such as it was—was going to do him more good. Hell would be more kindly disposed to him if he followed their rules.

He turned and faced Mei, who stood off to the side. It was the first time I’d gotten a good glimpse of my boss since his return. His face was blank and cold, but I was pretty sure I could see the fury kindling behind his eyes. Being summoned was pretty much the worst thing that could happen to a demon.

“She was right to a certain extent,” he told Mei. “It could have been advantageous to turn against me.”

“And be second to her?” Mei shook her head. Like Grace, she had put herself back together. “No. I won’t serve you forever, believe me, but for now, I see what my best course of action is. I’m throwing my lot in with yours.”

“Your loyalty is appreciated.” Mei gave a small nod of acknowledgment. Unlike Kristin and Cedric, where she served him out of love as much as duty, Mei’s loyalty was all pragmatism and assessment of what could advance her. Jerome knew this and accepted it. “And it will be rewarded.”

“I know it will be,” she said evenly. “And I’ll have no co-lieutenant when we return?”

“No. Not if I have anything to do with it.”

And for the first time since I had known her, Mei smiled.

Her eyes then flicked to the Grace statue. “Do you need me . . . ?”

“No,” said Jerome, seeming to remember us. “You can go.”

Mei wasted no time. She vanished, and Jerome turned around and stared down at Roman and me. His eyes fell on me first.

“So. You’re here, Georgie. Why am I not surprised?”

“Because I’m the only one who cared about getting you back and wasn’t too lazy to do anything about it?”

The ghost of a smile flickered across his lips. “Fair enough. And you will be rewarded too.”

I wanted to tell him that I didn’t need a reward, but Jerome had already shifted his attention to Roman. The smile faded. “You, however, have some balls in coming here.”

“Must run in the family,” said Roman. As beat up as he was, he still managed mockery.